Raiders New Stadium Should Be Mark Davis’ Doing, Not the City’s

Raiders shot-caller Mark Davis did exactly what he was supposed to do, what is common among sports owners of modernity. Even though he doesn’t have the money himself, he found it so his franchise can get a new stadium.

Maybe the plans of the Raiders and the San Diego Chargers to elope in Carson won’t pan out. The artist renderings for Los Angeles Stadium certainly look nice. But venue sketches are like picturesque sunsets around here — we see them all the time.

If they do pan out, however, the Raiders should jump on it. Because if they really cared about this area and its beloved fans, the last thing they would want to do is again pillage the city and county resources.

New Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and local government officials might be tempted to put up taxpayer money, disguised in jargon. Who wants to lose the Raiders on their watch? But everyone involved needs to come to grips with this new reality of big sports business.

Not once have you heard Warriors CEO Joe Lacob waiting on local government to get something done. That’s how it should be. Want a new facility in a superb market to bolster your business? You fund it.

Prices have gotten way too high for municipalities to kick in. These games now can be played only by members of the billionaires club, those who have access to ridiculous dough and lose millions in their couch cushions. This is not a game for politicians beholden to constituents and school systems and firefighters.

Especially not for financially strapped cities such as Oakland, laden with core problems that take precedence over the Raiders’ need for a new porch.

And to his credit, Davis has taken the onus on himself. Would it be best if Davis and the NFL found the means to keep the team here? Absolutely. But he hasn’t, and maybe he can’t.

The Raiders and the Chargers, though rivals on the field, are the perfect match because neither can fund a stadium on their own. And if they go in on one together, neither has to be left out in the cold while the other joins the Rams in Hollywood Park.

It’s doubtful, after all these years, that locals leaders can come up with a better plan for the Raiders. The city is already paying $20 million a year for the Coliseum renovation when the Raiders came back in 1995. And Schaaf is on the record saying the public will pay for the infrastructural improvements to make the area fit for a new stadium. That’s a price tag that could be upward of $300 million. Already too much.

On top of that, local officials have to find $600 million, to combine with Davis’ share, to fund the actual stadium.

Perhaps the funding would be possible if not for the inept politicians in the way. That wouldn’t be the least bit surprising. But that is only further proof this process is too big for these local officials and that Davis needs to make this happen on his own.

If that means the Raiders need to go, so be it.

This is still a thriving market with admired fans. If he wants to risk leaving it for greener pastures in SoCal, that’s just something we have to be smart enough to let happen. Getting emotionally sucked into another bad deal just can’t happen.

Maybe losing the Raiders will ruin some political careers and prompt a cleaning of house. So in 10 years, when the Raiders’ new stadium will be archaic or it becomes evident the fan fervor can’t be duplicated in Southern California, a team will come back to Oakland. And the local leaders will be capable of reaping the benefits for the area instead of getting fleeced.

Owners need to understand they have to pay to play, unless they can find a sucker of a city to open its purse. The relevance and revenue of being in a major market comes with a heavy initial cost. The people are already paying outrageous prices for tickets and jerseys and beer. If an owner wants some of the action of a major-market fan base, be ready to foot or find the upfront costs.